China Watching

The Congressional Research Service recently issued its latest report on military contacts between the United States and China.

The Nov. 20 report -- originally obtained by Secrecy News -- notes that the most recent contacts between the two countries' militaries include:

* September 9 Under Secretary of Defense for Policy James Miller held the 14th DCT in Beijing. A Deputy Chief of General Staff, LTG Wang Guanzhong, spoke against U.S. involvement as a "third party" in disputes in the East and South China Seas. They started exchanges on strategic planning. Miller called on the PRC to maintain and increase pressure for the DPRK’s denuclearization.

* September 24-October 1 Since the last such visit in 1998, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF), General Mark Welsh III, Pacific Air Forces Commander, General Herbert Carlisle, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs Heidi Grant, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody visited Beijing, Nanyuan Air Base, Hangzhou, and Hong Kong. The delegation met with CMC Member and PLAAF Commander Ma Xiaotian, and CMC Vice Chairman Xu Qiliang.

* November 12-14 PLA soldiers held the first field exercise with the U.S. Army. U.S. Army Pacific, Hawaii National Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and Marine Corps worked with the PLA on tactics, techniques, and procedures concerning HA/DR. The exercise took place on Oahu, Hawaii.

* November 10-14 Reciprocating PLAN Deputy Commander Zhang Yongyi's visit, Vice CNO, Admiral Mark Ferguson, visited Beijing and Zhoushan. He met with PLAN Commander Wu Shengli and Deputy Commander Xu Hongmeng. Met by Vice Admiral Su Zhiqian, the East Sea Fleet's Commander, Ferguson toured the destroyer Changchun, corvette Shangrao (at sea), and a Yuan-class submarine.

* November 18-21 Beijing MR Commander, LTG Zhang Shibo, visited the Pentagon at Washington, DC; Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD; and NORTHCOM at Colorado Springs, CO.